The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-24
A BOY SPY In DIXIE.
"Oh, he was one of the Bull Run fellows;
Continued from 1st page.)

"0h, he was one of the Bull Run fellows;
/ am not responsible for him.
Finally we drove off; but did not like
the idea of going in such company, for l
feared he would injure me in trying to glo-
rify himself and magnify his own impor-
tance.
When the old gentleman and were alone
on the road l began to work on his patriot
ism little, but it was not exactly success.
His manner was not agreeable at all. He
had with him fine English repeating rifle,
which he placed between us, with the butt
resting on the floor Of the buggy, and as we
drove along that day had it in my mind
for the first time in my life TO commit a
murder.
As we were tediously ascending a mount
ain on the road, remarked to the Colo
mel" that / believed I'd walk up the mount
ain and relieve the horse for while. He
glanced at me, and, with hateful, Overbear-
ing sneer on his face, said:
You won't get out of this buggy until l
put you into Gen. Beauregard's hands"
felt an angry, wicked sensation dart
through me that had never before expert
enced, and instinctively my eyes rested on
the gun; the Colonel saw my face, and
reached for his gun not a moment too soon.
My instinct of cOolneSs came back to me,
and ! merely said:
YOU'RE NOT DRIVING SIGGER now"
] still had my loaded pistol concealed in
belt under my clothes, and aS / had &C
quired while in Texas the Southern accom-
plishment of learning its use, was expert
and quick enough to have put its contents
in the old FOOLS ear, and would probably
have done so had / not been restrained by
the fear that the report would bring about
us n crowd of rebels.
For an hour after this incident we drove
along in sullen silence. ! felt in my soul
that / was being driven like a condemned
criminal to the gallows, and this old rascal
was merely my hangman, whom / ought to
shoot like n rat.
After calm reflection concluded that with
the officers note in my possession / would
be able to counteract any unlavOrable i'm
preston he might try to make. / had not
attempted to commit any act in Virginia,
that he could prove, which would operate
against me. The only matter had to fear
was the discovery of my identity as the per-
son who had played the spy in Florida, but
as that was many hundred miles away, / felt
that was safe. Besides this, wanted most
earnestly TO see Gen. Beauregard and his
army ut Manassas, and was very glad indeed
TO have the use of the Old mans buggy, in
stead Of having to trudge it along on foot.
That night we stopped at wayside place
somewhere near Smokers Gap, where my
pOmpous guard kept close watch over me the
while he glorifed himself by his importance
in having charge of a prisoner captured by
our pickets, by Cad, sir"
Early with the next day we were again
en- route, my guard still keeping up his de-
meanor toward me of a country sheriff with
a hOrse-thief, and rolled along the dusty
roads until far past midday.
Soon we began TO come upon the outskirts
of the rebel army, which was evident from
the frequent appearance of men in the gray
clothes, who were struggling along the road
bound to their homes. A great many of them
seemed TO have formed theindependent con-
clusion that, having whipped the Yankees
at Bull Run, the war was over, or if it wasn't
it ought to be, and they could return to their
homes in peace. At certain points along the
highway, such as bridges, tOll-gates and
crossroads, we were halted by guards, who,
like the stragglers, were of the general opin-
ion that there was no longer any necessity for
any particular stringencg in enforcing their
orders, and we were peSnitted TO drive ahead
without delay.
NV old Colonel ~ taken occasion at
several points to call attention to his " pris-
Oner" in his patronizlngway. Twas pleased
and encouraged TO note that the air of inn
portance with which the old man attempted
to.surrOund himself did not evoke the lauda-
tien from those whom he addressed that be
expected.
We drove up TO a house by the roadside to
water the horse as we neared Manassas, and
/ suggested that should like an opportunity
TO wash some of the dust and perspiratiOn
off and brush up little before being pre-
sented 10 the General. My Guardian Angel
bluntly refused me this privilege, saying as
he drove off:
"rm in a hurry to get there, as I don't
want TO have you on my hands all night"
We were now close to the railroad tracks
alongside of which were numerous camps
or those that had been abandoned for more
comfortable location out towards the front
! need not tell old soldiers how uneOmfort-
able and desolate the rear or outskirts of an
srmy is, especially in the miserable country
about Manassas.
The roads were crowded with all sorts OF
vehicles, from artillery and ammunition
wagons, driven and guarded by
FRIsKY "BLACK-HORsE CAyALRYMEN,"
to the two-wheeled carts run by decrepit old
colored people, who were peddling truck y
for the benefit of their Virginia Yankee y
Owners-whOm, by the way, theTeal Southern
people from the extreme South say are
worse than any other sort Of Yankee
OF course the road was dusty Virginia
roads are always either dusty or muddy
aud being so much crowded, our progress
was little slow. As we drove along through
that rebel army that evening / am sure
there was not face in all the crowd that |
did not eagerly sean, IN nervous anticipation
of meeting some one who might know me
Seeing SO many without recognizing one. !
gathered encouragement, and when the old
man inquiTing the way TO Gen. Beauregard's
headquarters was told we were Off the road
felt as much annoyed as himself at the
delay in reaching our destination. had by
this time begun to feel so comfortable al
having been driven through their lines in
the protection Of an old Virginia gentleman
that i felt sure all would end well, and
determined TO make the best possible use OF
my opportunities to gather all the inforna-
tion / could get
There was an entire absence Of anything
that looked like preparation for an advance
OF this became satisfied at once, both from
| the appearance Of men travelling TO the real
and from the careless appearance of the
troops toward the front. Artillery wa.
parked in shady places the horses wer,
seldom TO be seen close to the guns. In tact
Il a. n.